ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the current human resources development programmes particularly for the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. The Human Resources Development Act 1992 was approved by the government that allows the establishment of the Human Resources Development Council under the Ministry of Human Resources. Once registered with the Human Resources Development Council, the employers will be liable to pay the monthly human resources development levy at the rate of 0.5 per centum of the monthly wages of their employees. The Act will be amended to enable them to pay the levy at the reduced rate. The Small and Medium Industries Development Corporation has also played an active role in providing technical assistance for SMEs, other than support programmes for entrepreneurial developing discussed in the earlier chapter. The most essential part of technical assistance provided by the Corporation is among others, the industrial technical assistance fund and skill development programme.
